Pioneer One (2010)HD

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A mysterious spaceship has entered Earth's atmosphere. A US Department of Homeland Security investigation has uncovered a live human being in a Soviet space suit in an unstable condition. A note in Russian, found at the crash site, claims the man is the child of cosmonauts living at a base on Mars.

Episode 6: "War of the World"

Taylor prepares to go to the public with Yuri's story, and everyone discovers the consequences of their actions in the conclusion to Pioneer One's first season.

Pioneer One is a serialized drama produced and distributed online through VODO and the DISCO network. Downloaded almost 2,000,000 times and winner for Best Drama Pilot at the 2010 New York Television Festival, the show is independently produced and financed by viewer donations.

Episode 5: "Sea Change"

When an unannounced visitor breaks in to the Calgary base with just days left in the Quarantine, tensions are at an all-time high. The fate of Yuri and everyone on Tom Taylor's team is about to be decided.

Episode 4: "Triangular Diplomacy"

As the media begins to question the story about the crashed satellite, Secretary McClellan starts to play hardball with the Russians in pursuit of his own truth. But everything hinges on what Yuri, the frightened boy at the center of it all, might have to sayâ€¦

Episode 2: "The Man From Mars"

Mars expert Dr. Zachary Walzer (Jack Haley) fights to prove the validity of the Mars story. Can he convince the government to mount a manned mission to Mars? Agent in charge Tom Taylor (James Rich) faces pressure from both the Canadians and his own superiors, and has to make a call.

Episode 1: "Earthfall" (Pilot)

An object in the sky spreads radiation over North America. Fearing terrorism, U.S. Homeland Security agents are dispatched to investigate and contain the damage. What they discover will have drastic implications.

The Pioneer One Team

In late January 2010, writer Josh Bernhard pitched his Untitled Mars Show idea to director Bracey Smith. In February, the pair quit their jobs and got down to work on the pilot episode of Pioneer One, finished by May with a budget of $6000. The enormous response to its release on VODO prompted them to continue producing the first season with viewer-donated support.
The Pioneer One team is based mostly in and around New York, NY. At its core is a group of filmmakers who met at the avant-garde cinema department at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY. With P1, they've amassed an amazing group of talented performers and crew, all willing to work for free because of their belief in the project.

Pioneer One

Episode One: This 35-minute sci-fi pilot revolves around the discovery of an object from space, a lost cosmonaut and the U.S. governmentâ€™s efforts to contain the situation. The production values are impressive given the low budget, and the scripting, acting and direction are solid. If you enjoyed the slightly talky but eerie Quatermass series, Pioneer One would probably be right up your alley.

At 19:42 on 23 Apr 2011

Here’s a bold statement: episode three of Pioneer One may go down in history as one of the most program-revolutionizing episodes in a series, ever. In this episode we saw a complete gear shift – characters were fleshed out and brought to life in a hitherto unexplored fashion, giving far more depth to the show on the whole. The actors, whether under some adjustment of direction or simply achieving comfort in their roles, seemed to blossom and take a giant step forward towards achieving their potential. In some cases, such potential was revealed where it had previously not been clear.
Before I go any further into my review, I must disclose two things. First, this review does contain spoilers, and I will not clearly label them. So if you have not yet watched it, stop reading and stream/download it now – then proceed. Second, unlike with the previous two episodes I was completely sober when watching this third installment. See? No need for an intervention.
I have already lauded the character development and acting in this episode, and these elements will comprise the bulk of this review. Why? Because the story was not greatly advanced. Plot took a back seat to “getting to know you”, and this is more or less OK. The end result was an episode that was thoroughly engaging regardless. My only concern is that what plot was advanced seemed to be mostly sub-plot – and I would hate to see the primary storyline diluted by too much flotsam and jetsam. There was nothing inherently bad about these asides and incidentals. However, some struck me hit or miss. Some I am fairly certain will have a major impact on future episodes. Time will tell.
One example of such hit or miss storytelling was the puzzling glimpse into Tom Taylor’s personal life. After a cursory and somewhat clumsy conversation between Tom and Dr. Walzer about Walzer’s failed marriage, Tom was suddenly desperate to escape quarantine to go to his rather impatient and mostly unlovable significant other to pop the question. No doubt this was intended to grip us, as it was left a cliffhanger, but it seemed so hastily thrown-together as to feel like a non-sequitur. I found myself not the least bit emotionally involved in the scenario.
And while I’m speaking of Tom Taylor, let me state that while your mileage may vary, to me he went from being one of the most, if not the most, likable characters on the show to something of an unsympathetic dick. It’s the only character whose progression, in my opinion, ended up a regression.
Case in point: in this episode he delivered the worst pep talk in history to a distraught Jane Campbell when she was doubting her suitability as companion to the stricken “Martian boy”, Yuri. His idea of motivation was to tell her, “Sure, there are tons of people who are better than you. But you’re the one we’re stuck with, m’kay?” Now, I have already pointed out that he seems unprepared and unsure of how to handle the situation in which he’s at the helm. Understandable. Maybe that sequence was intended to underline this. And, while I’m proposing excuses, maybe the whole rush-to-marriage-proposal thing was meant to illustrate how fed up he is with being in charge. Maybe his sudden desperation to escape quarantine was, whatever his ultimate motive for so doing, more or less symbolic of his need to escape the turn his life has suddenly taken.
But at this juncture you may be asking yourself, unless you were good enough to watch the episode before reading this review, “Who is Jane?”. She’s a new character brought abruptly onto the scene to help keep Yuri company, and to perhaps elicit from him some intelligible responses to the inevitable onslaught of questioning to which he’ll be subjected when he’s recovered more. In a nutshell, she’s a nurse who’s experienced working with sick kids, and she happens to have a passable grasp of the Russian language. (Though this was never fully illustrated.)
She is, quite simply, the most stunning element of the show thus far, and if the preview of episode four is to believed, she will (thankfully) play a much larger role in plot to come. She is well and believably acted, but more importantly, she’s identifiable and you cannot help but relate to her on any of a number of levels. And for my money the best scene in the entire series thus far is her attempt at storytelling, guiding the clearly frightened and suffering Yuri through a little good old-fashioned escapism. It wasn’t not the first time someone reached out to him with a personal touch – more on that in a bit – but it’s the most touching outreach. Combining a simple fairy tale with something I can only describe as interpretive dance (and this is the only time you’ll ever hear me mention interpretive dance in a positive light), she came across as graceful, almost ethereal, and you couldn’t help but fall in love. And, for what it’s worth, it was one of the least choreographed-looking dance sequences I can recall seeing in TV or film. The end result was a totally organic scene.
Since we’re on the topic of reaching out to Yuri, let’s discuss the brief but important conversation Dr. Walzer had with the young lad. Walzer veered sharply from his Vizzini-esque path in this episode, becoming someone it’s possible to truly like. During his little chat with Yuri we saw a side of him that’s not yet been highlighted. We were given a chance to better understand what motivates him. And the show is better for having one of its central characters clearly explained.
But that’s not the only case of “meet and greet” with already-established players. Remember the guy with the emo haircut? Turns out he’s not so much emo, but actually just a nerd, and a fun nerd, at that. (He never stood a chance at being hip; he was named after Adlai Stevenson.) Why it took three episodes to learn more about him I can only speculate – however, getting to know him brings about another layer of polish and greater chance of immersion to the series. Perhaps it’s coincidental that it was Jane who brought him out of his shell. Then again, maybe not.
One last instance of character development, as well as a shining example of acting vastly improved from the previous episode, came in the form of the Canadian liaison, whose acting was stiff and actually distracting in episode two. In this episode, however, we were shown more of his character – a character who continues to assert his importance to Tom verbally, but more or less rolls over when told. And finally, this was brought to life with better-delivered dialog and body language. Hell, he even made a witty remark. A vast improvement.
“Vast improvement” is actually the key phrase when it comes to the entirety of episode three. And considering Pioneer One was a solid show to begin with, that’s a feat. As I pointed out in my review of the first two episodes Pioneer One began with much room for growth. It has made good on its promise and grown. I am greatly looking forward to episode four and hope you’ll join me both in watching it when it’s released, and in reading my future reviews of the series.

At 16:42 on 15 Mar 2012

Today weâ€™re revisiting a series that I kinda gushed over last year. Since reviewing the pilot, Pioneer One has since been able to crowdfund five more episodes for six in total, they won the drama category for 2010â€²s NYTVF (and shouldâ€™ve won pretty much everything else. Illuminati Brothers? Greg And Donny? Really?), and their first two episodes as of January 2011 received over 1.7 million downloads. So, for the equivalent of an hour-long television pilot, they had more viewers than either of the first two season premieres of Breaking Bad.
According to their blog, it sounds like creator Josh Bernhard and director Bracey Smith are tiring of discussion over their novel distribution methodsâ€”hint: torrents are effective! Iâ€™ll skip that. Letâ€™s talk the show itself.
Are you watching it? You should be. You should be talking about it. When people say, â€œthereâ€™s nothing good on the web,â€ or â€œyou canâ€™t do drama on the web,â€ you point them directly to this series and you say, â€œshut up.â€
With each episode, small revelations, things that on the surface appear mundane, have major and lasting consequences. A single word near the end of Episode 4 (by this time, our running time is deep into TV Miniseries lengths) and with no shocked response, no intense musical cues, everything you thought about the series changes.
Political intrigue is shown through devil-in-the-details moments, from using old immigration agreements and laws as ammunition for forcing the Russians into backing down to simply not answering the phone until theyâ€™re damn good and ready to buy time. Humanity shown through old clips of a character begging Congress for funding to go to Mars because â€œitâ€™s the next step,â€ and the power of simple human contact for someone who may have never felt it before.
We talk a big game about the web overtaking TV, about the creative freedom it provides. And while only a semi-full picture of its ratings are known for the first two episodes, less than 1,500 people have watched Pioneer Oneâ€˜s fourth episode on YouTube, released on October 4th, 2011.
You want us to overtake TV? You want to talk about how it can provide something that TV never could or would? Viewers are gonna have to do better than that.
Weâ€™re going to have to have the balls to bring it up at the water cooler. Weâ€™re going to need to be willing to discuss it at least the way we would a Sundance film. We need to take the â€œjustâ€ out of â€œitâ€™s just on the web.â€
When someone produces something that at its core stands up against anything on any medium, we as advocates for our particular medium better step up. Not just for a pilot. But continuous. Iâ€™m not going to lie â€” that Pioneer Oneâ€˜s producers are unable to make this their full time, somewhat lucrative job pisses me off.
Doubly so because Iâ€™m partly to blame. I forgot about them. I talked it up but I didnâ€™t champion it. It was only through dumb luck talking with Marc a week or two ago that I was reminded about the series. Theyâ€™ve made it on the summer issue of Moviemaker Magazine. They won best drama pilot in 2010 for NYTVF. I gave it a full on, no-strings-attached win review. What more do you want, a cookie for watching? Fine, Iâ€™ll start baking.
We want great dramas on the web, ones that are independently made and donâ€™t sink to the lowest common denominator? We only need to get up off our asses and watch and talk about the ones thatâ€™re already here to those who donâ€™t necessarily watch series on the web. Itâ€™s entirely that simple.

Comments

What is the latest on Pioneer 1 second season? I am all for supporting your effort but in truth I have seen so many do the same collect donations and nothing materializes? im not a rich man but i have a little money set aside and would not mind making a sizeable donation IF I could get some reassurance that the money is going to be used to further the production of more of this series? what do you say can I get some?

If VODO is really committed to furthering the cause of web-based independent entertainment then they are going about it wrong. Where are the forums where the fans and the creators can share ideas on how to move the genre forward? Maybe they're afraid it would turn into a bitch-fest. Either way web series and films by the big studios and those connected to them continue to set the mark as the independent sector plays its traditional role of starting a trend only to have it co-opted by people who understand how the system works.Spycology, "Shining City" and "End of December" by ZoomTilt weren't bad but the first two were supposed to be first episodes of series that never materialized. Most independent producers of web content seem to have no idea what it takes to keep a production up and running; which isn't a problem for the majority since their creations suck. Though I can imagine it can be frustrating for that slim minority that create a masterpiece with a pilot or a first season then run up against the brick wall of having to make a living while getting the series made. There seems to be this fantasy among the non-studio types that film it and they will come ( and support us as well ).Check out "I Kissed a Vampire" and "Aim High". Neither are "Citizen Kane" but both have "names" connected to them. Vampire was a one-off but "Aim High" is in it's second season and they both have DVD releases. The same with "Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog ".

I love this show! I hope one of the casts/production people see this. Such a great show! It should be on TV or made into a movie. If I had the cash I would fund this show in full. That's how good it is. That's how much I believe in it. Hope production re-starts soon.

Haven't been able to find any info on whether or not there will be a second season. All the news on their website is old. I'm kind of tired of seeing my favorite web series fade away. To be honest I don't think web series as a consumer led medium will work. There will be some good content for awhile but most of that will be either produced by the big boys or character driven, low production value series people will start in between jobs and/or to get some buzz started. Continually producing a series takes cash; yours or OPM. We live in a world where people who are baby boomers or older grew up with "free" TV. The younger generations might accept paying for TV with the advent of cable but paying for web content that isn't locked behind a pay wall will take time, if it ever happens. Even then content will be subject to the vagaries of the audience. Does the target audience have the will and the means to support the project? Would the audience be able to steer the production in any meaningful way? In TV (before DVDs) the payments were from the advertisers. How will direct out of pocket expenditures for the entertainment received affect the audience's expectations? DVD sales are down and downloads are up. How do independents tap into this trend? There are many serious questions to be asked and answered before independently produced web series can anything but an indicator of where the big entertainment corp.s can make their next big pile of cash.

I think VODO's partly to blame. The platform's been too much focussed on free availability and too little on incentives, even though they were offering them. The 'tickets' of the old website were not much more than a handful of streams, while the series were completely free to download otherwise. You can see they're trying to modernise, but the platform just feels empty and little more than a portal to free downloads. There is so much potential, they just have to flip the switch and finish the new direction they're going in. Personal incentives, bundles, rewards, and a focus on support and necessity are definitely the way to go, or else the "Netflix-meets-Kickstarter" quote will only serve as bleak reminder.

Fantastic - thought provoking and engaging. Found out about this series through Utorrent and downloaded all six episodes. Was up until 3:00 am to finish the complete series. Excellent job, particularly with such a small budget. Please accept my donation of $10 in gratitude. What a wonderful alternative to the commercial shlock shoved down our throats through standard media. Please continue the good work and I cannot wait for episode 7. Love the business model and genuinely wish you well. I am on a fixed budget and cannot donate large sums but for this I am willing to contribute a modest sum.

I watched the first episode some time ago. I enjoyed the episode immensely, from the choice of camera angles and the real dialog between characters not to mention an enticing plot. I checked back a few times, and I never saw another episode. Well - that is till recently when I fired up my torrent client and I was reminded about the show. I checked and boom, 5 more shows waiting for me (yes it has been awhile).

Thank you to everyone involved in making Pioneer One, and for continuing to support it. I plan on donating again and I hope that others do as well to show the support you deserve.

The main character and the neverending piano background music spoil the whole series for me. Especially the music. I'm not sure if the main character is supposed to be so boring and seem like a total loser or if he is just an incredibly boring and pathetic guy in real life. If he is a joyful and powerful person in real life I'm very impressed with his performance but on the other hand find it sad that the mood in all episodes was chosen to be so dull and depressing.

Unfortunately it really comes down to this for me, even though so incredibly well done and there is such a good idea and tension, these episodes were utterly depressing and pulling my mood down because of the main character (or general mood) and the music, which was highly influencing the mood.

I really hope there will not be a second season with the same music and actor. Or if the actor stays, which I would understand, really the music has to change, its unbearable depressing and lame. And even if it stays as depressing it should at least have FAR more variety.

Still, I also want to say that I highly admire the work that has been done. Except to the music and the main character I actually like most of it.